Bottle closure retainer



W. W. MAYS BOTTLE cLosURE RETAINER March 25, 1947.

Filed Jan. 4, 194e INVNTOR, Wilbur VV M BY Patented Mar. 25, i947`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,418,039 A BOTTLE oLosURE Burgman i.wenen Wuuays, Philadelphia-12a.-

Application January 4, 1946, Serial No. 633,()33

(cinzia- 98) I Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of bottle -1 closures, and itparticularly has for its objects to provide an improved device forlocking the stopper in bottles to prevent unauthorized removal of thesame. More particularly, the invention has for its object to improve andsimplify the device on which Letters Patent No. 2,390,724 were grantedDecember 11, 1945.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part will be made clearhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention stillfurther resides in the novel details of construction and arrangement ofparts, all of which will be described in the following detaileddescription, and then be pointed out in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a bottle neck and myinvention placed thereon, the parts being in the released or inoperativeposition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of a slight modification, shown inthe closed or operative position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the parts as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate like partsin all the figures, I is a sleeve which slidably ts the neck Ill of thebottle and rests on the bead I4 of the same.

The covers 2 have arms 3 which are pivoted at 3a to the sleeve I so asto be capable of being brought over the cork I5 and the upper end of theneck Ill, as in Fig. 2, or swing clear of the same, as in Fig. 1.

5 and 9 are rings which encircle the sleeve I and are connected togetherby struts 6, the upper ring 5 having a flange 4 with a circular row ofperforations 4a.

Secured to the struts B are spring ngers or -pawls 1 which engage incircular grooves Ia in the sleeve I and serve to hold the structure 5,Ii, 9 in any position, along the sleeve, in which it may be placed.

The sleeve l has a ange Ib at the bottom which projects past the bead onthe bottle neck, and carries a thumb-screw 8 by means of which thesleeve I can be secured to the bottle neck I0, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each cover 2 has an apertured ear II which, when the parts arepositioned as shown in Figs. 2

and 3, lies over the flange 4. When apertures of 2 l the ears Il andflange II are in alignment, padlocks I2 may be passed through the earsII-and flange Il to secure the covers'in place. The covers 2 also havecut-outs 2a to clear the cork-screw I3 so the cork-screw may be locatedin the cork if desired.

In assembling the device on the bottle neck, the sleeve I is firstplaced on the neck until it rests on the bead I4, after which screw 8 istightened. Covers 2 may then be swung over the cork by raising thecage-like structure (formed by the rings 5, 9, and the struts 6) untilflange lies against ears II, and then turning it until the apertures ofthe ears lineup each with an aperture in the flange; padlocks I2 may beapplied to lock the covers to the flange 4.

'When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the lower ring 9Will clear the screw but when the parts are in the operative positionthe ring 9 will cover the screw 8 and prevent its being tampered with.To further prevent tarnpering with the bottle closure, the ring 9 mayhave an inturned flange I6 (see Fig. 2) to lie under the flange Ib, inwhich event the sleeve I and the structure `5, Ii, 9, I will beassembled before placing the same on the bottle neck.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it is thought the construction, -operation, andadvantages of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. In a .bottle closure retainer wherein hinged covers are provided .togo over the mouth of the bottle and a cork therein, the improvementwhich includes: a sleeve slidably iitted over the neck of the bottle andmeans'to secure said sleeve to the neck of the bottle, the covers beinghinged to said sleeve; and a cover-closing body including an upper ringand a lower ring connected together in spaced relation by struts, theupper ring having an outer flange with apertures and the covers havingears with apertures to regis-ter with the apertures of said upper ring,said body being slidable along said sleeve, said lower ring coveringsaid sleeve-securing means when the parts are in the operative position.

2. The improvement of claim l wherein means l.are provided for retainingsaid body in any position along said sleeve at which the body may beplaced.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein a ratchet and pawl device connectssaid body with said sleeve to retain said body in any position on saidsleeve at which the body may be placed.

operative position for locking said sleeve to the bottle neck, saidmeans being accessible when said lower ring is below said sleeve-lockingmeans; means hinging said covers to said sleeve; and means for lockingsaid covers to said upper ring when the parts are in the operativeposition.

5. In a bottle closure retaining means, the improvement which includes:a sleeve fitted on a bottle neck and having a, series of annulargrooves; means to secure said sleeve to the bottle neck; a cagecomprising an upper ring, a lower ring, and connecting struts betweensaid rings,

the lower ring, when the device is in the operative position, serving asa guard over said sleevesecuring means, the upper ring having anapertured ange; spring fingers secured to said struts and engaging saidannular grooves for purposes described; covers hinged to said sleeve andhaving apertured ears, the apertures of which register with those ofsaid upper ring when the device is in the operative posi-tion; andpadlocks having elements passing through said registering apertures tolock the parts together.

WILBURT W. MAYS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,937,295 Rettenmeyer Nov. 28,1933 2,390,724 Mays Dec. 11, 1945

